Meet Chef Christian Froelich
Students gather around the dining table in the sleek kitchen of Caffey Hall, the newest residential facility on campus. Their teacher is Executive Chef Christian Froelich, whose goal is to teach them the art of making dough from scratch. Chef Christian knows that dining at HPU is about more than just feeding hungry students. It’s about creating relationships and providing the nutrition students need to thrive.
As executive chef, his responsibilities include planning the menus at all 14 dining locations on campus. It’s his goal to make sure students feel educated about the food he serves. Providing gluten and allergy sensitive foods are some of the many ways he ensures everyone enjoys their dining experience.
His “Teaching Kitchens” allow students who may have only seen each other in passing to bond over learning to make meals from scratch with quality ingredients. This creates a sense of community and belonging among students. The classes also provide students, like sophomore Matt Carty, with a culinary skill that they use in their daily lives.
“Chef Christian is a really down-to-earth kind of guy,” says Carty. “He makes the Teaching Kitchen a fun and beneficial experience. I always look forward to working with him.”
It’s important to Froelich to put students first. That’s why he has started an initiative to prepare foods from scratch in the dining locations on campus. He knows using locally-sourced ingredients can make all the difference in providing students with a nutritious meal on campus.
“We serve students every day, so all our guests here are ‘regulars’,” he says.
He has led kitchens in hotels and big cities and operated his own restaurant where he once hosted leaders from campus. HPU’s culture stood out to him and attracted him to be part of the university’s hospitality team.
Ask him about his job and he’ll praise the positive environment on campus that inspires him to be the best every day. Chef Christian is especially proud to work among upbeat professionals. His staff take the time to build relationships with the students they serve. The students are what inspire him and his team members to strive for excellence.
“It’s not just that we want to be the best at what we do. We also want to act like that’s really who we are. We believe in our mission,” says Chef Christian.
Harvest Table Culinary Group employs a team of culinarians just like Chef Christian who share a passion for excellence in service, quality food, and providing healthier food options. Our team members have a common philosophy – deliver inspiring food experiences that help create meaningful and memorable connections. If you’re interested in connecting with us about employment opportunities, please get in touch.
